Student Marketeer

Helmut Marko lands new Red Bull role. Helmut Marko lands new Red Bull role Helmut Marko recently retired sam cook digital journalist sports journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023 friday 10 april 2026 10:02. Former Red Bull F1 legend Helmut Marko has landed a new role within the Red Bull brand. Marko opted to retire from his role as motorsport advisor at the end of 2025, but had held that role since the 2005 season, Red Bull's first in the sport. It means that he has overseen all of Red Bull's grand prix victories and world championship wins to date, while helping develop some of the best racing talent including Max Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo.

Radical Red Bull RB17 hypercar getting closer to production. Production will be limited to just 50 units. Zero 2 Turbo has all heard the pitch before. A machine promising Formula 1 levels of performance, supposedly within reach of private buyers with very deep pockets. The last time that idea made headlines it came in the form of the Aston Martin Valkyrie. While undeniably impressive, its journey to production was anything but smooth, and some of the early ambitions never quite materialised in full. That unfinished business clearly stuck with Adrian Newey. The result is the Red Bull RB17, a project that strips away regulatory constraints entirely and leans fully into what Newey and Red Bull Advanced Technologies set out to achieve. It steps into a rarefied space alongside machines like the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro, Pagani Huayra R and GMA T.50S Niki Lauda, but it's clear this one is aiming to move the goalposts. The first glimpse came at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2024, although by then the real engineering work was already well underway behind the scenes. Fast forward around 18 months and the picture is far clearer. Final development is progressing, with track testing scheduled for this year. Expect to see it make an appearance at a Formula 1 weekend before long, and it wouldn't be a surprise if it returns to Goodwood for a proper run up the hill. Visually, the RB17 has evolved quite a bit since that early concept. It's actually been scaled down slightly, though it still sits in roughly the same footprint as a previous-generation Formula 1 car. Aerodynamic elements have been sharpened across the board, from the stabilising fin running over the engine cover to the more intricate front splitter and a heavily reworked rear wing and diffuser setup. There's a lot more going on in the bodywork, too. Additional vents have been carved into the front and rear wings, the side pods and even the prominent snorkel intake. The exhaust now exits higher up along the spine of the car, right at the base of that intake. And yes, it now features essentials like lights, mirrors and wipers, which feels almost amusing given the rest of the package. The real drama sits behind the cockpit. Mounted directly to the carbonfibre chassis is a Cosworth-developed 4.5-litre V10 that revs to 15,000rpm. It forms part of the car's structure and is paired with an electric motor producing 147 kW (197 hp). Combined output exceeds 1,184 hp (883 kW), all sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed sequential gearbox, with the electric motor handling reverse duties. Red Bull has also refined the transmission software to improve durability and reduce wear over time. Flat out, it will go beyond 349 km/h (217 mph). Despite numbers that sound borderline absurd, the RB17 isn't meant to be a nightmare to drive. Active suspension and adaptive aerodynamics play a big role here, allowing the car to adjust ride height, balance and downforce levels depending on conditions. The aero itself is dynamic too, with adjustable elements front and rear to suit different circuits or driving styles. Downforce peaks at around 1,700 kg, which is close to double the car's targeted sub-900 kg mass. To keep things manageable, it's equipped with hydraulic power steering, traction control and ABS working with a carbon-carbon braking system. Buyers can choose between 18-inch carbonfibre wheels with Michelin slicks or 20-inch wheels wrapped in treaded tyres. Inside, it's more accommodating than you might expect from something this extreme. The two-seat cockpit is adjustable and designed to fit drivers in full race gear, including helmets. Controls stick to physical switches and dials rather than touch interfaces, keeping things intuitive when you're focused on driving. It's also engineered to handle endurance-level running, with the ability to complete a 24-hour race distance without needing attention. The V10 itself has been developed with usability in mind. While it could theoretically rev higher, Red Bull chose to prioritise longevity and reliability. It can run on 98 RON pump fuel and is designed to last significantly longer between services than a typical race engine. Major servicing intervals are set at around 8,047 km (5,000 miles), handled at Red Bull Advanced Technologies' facility. Production will be limited to just 50 units. Owners won't just get the car, they'll be invited into a full programme that includes track events around the world, driver coaching, setup support and simulator sessions to get familiar with the car before driving it in anger. Pricing still hasn't been finalised, but earlier guidance pointed to around £5 million. And if that's not enough, you can always take it a step further and have it converted for road use through Lanzante.

Duolingo English Test targets Gen Z at Moto Jam. Duolingo English Test leverages motorsport culture and campus activations to connect with Gen Z students aspiring to study abroad. The Duolingo English Test partnered with Red Bull India for a youth-focused integrated campaign at Red Bull Moto Jam 2026, positioning itself at the intersection of motorsport culture, education and global career aspirations. Conceptualised by Kulfi Collective, the campaign was designed to engage Gen Z audiences, particularly STEM and engineering students, by linking their passion for motorsports with international education pathways. Held in Greater Noida, the event drew around 10,000 attendees and featured global talent including Arvid Lindblad, providing a culturally relevant platform for DET to integrate its messaging. The campaign was anchored in the insight that both motorsport and studying abroad require discipline, ambition and self-belief. This formed the basis for positioning DET not just as a testing service, but as a gateway to global opportunities, particularly within niche career paths such as motorsport engineering. A key element of the campaign was the nationwide 'DETermined to Drive' contest, which invited engineering students to submit car modification ideas in 100 words or less. The initiative generated approximately 1,000 entries and was amplified through creator collaborations. Winners were flown to New Delhi for an immersive Moto Jam experience, including pit-lane access and an interaction with Lindblad, blending aspiration with real-world exposure. The campaign extended across multiple touchpoints, combining digital, on-ground and campus-led activations. DET's mascot Duo played a central role as a content driver, participating in the event, gaining garage access and interacting with talent. A standout activation included the 'Thiccshaw', a custom F1-inspired hybrid rickshaw developed with Wrap2Earn, which generated social media traction through its blend of local culture and motorsport aesthetics. Influencer partnerships with Mahir Malhotra and The Sidepod further amplified reach among niche but highly engaged communities. These collaborations enabled the campaign to tap into existing fan bases and drive contextual relevance within the motorsport ecosystem. On-ground engagement was reinforced through the 'Pen to Pitlane' activation at IIT Delhi, where interactive booths connected students with study abroad opportunities and motorsport careers. The activation included engagement zones, informational resources and ticket giveaways, effectively bridging awareness and participation. Tara Kapur, marketing head, Duolingo English Test, said, "Red Bull Moto Jam was a defining cultural moment for young India and we wanted DET to play a meaningful role in it. Young people today do not view career paths the way earlier generations did. They are increasingly looking to bring their passions and professions closer together. With India seeing one of the fastest-growing motorsports fandoms in the world, especially among Gen Z, we saw an opportunity to use this campaign to expand how they think about their future within the sport they love. Every element of the campaign was designed to connect with ambitious young Indians, particularly STEM aspirants towards a future abroad. The energy and enthusiasm we saw from students were incredible, and it reaffirmed that this is exactly the space DET should be in." Pourush Turel, senior account director, Kulfi Collective, added, "Motorsports is fast becoming a strong cultural space for young India, especially among engineering and STEM students. Our focus was to translate that energy into something participative and tangible, while connecting students with real engineering and career pathways. We moved beyond a traditional campaign to create an experience that students could actively engage with from ideation through the contest to experiencing Moto Jam up close. Bringing that journey to life across creators, campus and on-ground at the event helped make the idea both immersive, relevant and positioned DET as a very natural first step in the journey from Indian campus to global education." The campaign reflects a broader shift towards experiential and culture-led marketing, where brands embed themselves within passion ecosystems to drive deeper engagement. By combining motorsport fandom, education and creator-led storytelling, DET positions itself as a relevant and aspirational brand for India's globally minded youth.